Third chemo done, halfway mark! To cool cap or not to cool cap?

Well after weeks of torment as to whether I should or should not carry on with the cap cooling treatment it was a very difficult decision to make. After much discussion with staff on the ward and weighing up all the outcomes, it wasn't until they put the cannula into my hand and started administering the saline drip that I finally decided not to carry on with it. The cool cap treatment is not pleasant but I don't regret giving it a go and had I had a better response with it would have been willing to suffer on with the treatment.

The last experience was more painful than the first time, this was because I had already lost a fair bit of hair. It had thinned quite a bit and I had a fairly wide parting which they had expressed slight concern over my head getting burnt with the cold cap. Since the second chemo and cap cooling treatment hair loss has been considerably more and the concern has been the greater risk of burns to my head and was advised that it would be very painful this time. 

They can't explain why some people have better success with the cap cooling treatment than others, it could be due to different hair types but for me sadly the end result was not looking great and rather than putting myself through it anymore, for what was beginning to look like a lost cause I made my decision and think now I chose the right one.

About a week after the second chemo I started to develop a tightness in the veins in my left arm which is where they administer the drugs, which is one of many of the side effects and as time went on there were occasions where it became quite uncomfortable. 

I didn't realise how painful this would be when they started administering chemo number three! At that point I was glad that I wasn't having the pain of the cold cap along with the pain in my arm. To help things they applied a warm pack to my arm and slowed the chemo down which helped. Again as the two previous occasions while the last bit of the second drug was being given I experienced the stinging of eyes and nose and the onset of a headache. The eyes and nose lasted for a short period of time but the headache stayed throughout the evening although not extreme.

In the photo, me in my cosy warm cap doing a good job of hiding a rapidly balding head and the red cold cap now sitting waiting for the next volunteer!!!

Keep tuning in for more updates and look out for future photos, maybe a picture of the new me!!!!